Watch leash apparatus and methods

ABSTRACT

Systems, devices and methods for tethering a person to a sports board are disclosed herein. An article of manufacture provides a flexible, shock-absorbing tether, having an integrated timekeeping device.

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S.provisional application No. 61/075,675, filed Jun. 25, 2008, the entirecontents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Filed of the Invention

The present invention is related to systems, devices and methods fortethering a person to a waterboard.

2. Discussion of the Background

Tethers are used to attach a surfboard to a surfer to prevent the surferfrom being separated from the surfboard after falling from thesurfboard. Typically, the tether is attached at one end to the rear ofthe surfboard and at the other end to an ankle cuff worn by the surfer.The bodyboard leash is a leash system that connects to the nose area ofa bodyboard and is designed to keep the board close to the rider at alltimes while riding waves in the ocean. Bodyboard leashes typicallyinclude a cuff which allows the leash to be connected to, e.g., a wristor a bicep. Bodyboard leashes may be, for example, polyurethane cordswhich can be either straight or coiled. Conventionally, the tether is aflexible, non-elastic material that is long enough to provide the surferfreedom of movement. One shortcoming of a conventional tether is that,being inelastic, tremendous force can be exerted on the surfer's ankleas the surfboard is accelerated away from the surfer by the force of awave. Such force may result in injury to the surfer.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, an article of manufacturecomprises a cuff configured to encircle an extremity of a user, the cuffcomprising a waterproof timekeeping device; a non-rigid shock-absorbingmember comprising a first proximal end and a first distal end, the firstproximal end flexibly coupled to the cuff and having at least twodegrees of freedom of motion with respect to the cuff; a non-rigidsubstantially non-shock-absorbing member comprising a second proximalend and a second distal end, the second proximal end coupled to thefirst distal end and having at least two degrees of freedom of motionwith respect to the non-rigid shock-absorbing member; a connectingdevice configured for removable attachment to a waterboard, theconnecting device coupled to the second distal end and having at leasttwo degrees of freedom of motion with respect to the non-rigidsubstantially non-shock absorbing member.

Accordingly, the novel articles of manufacture provide a leash suitablefor attachment, for example, to a bodyboard, surfboard, or other sportsboard, which may be attached via the cuff to a user's body (e.g.,attached to a wrist, arm, ankle, leg, or elsewhere), the cuff comprisinga waterproof timekeeping device. The novel articles of manufacturedisclosed herein advantageously provide a tether that reduces the forcesexperienced by a user, such as, e.g., a bodyboarder, and advantageouslyprovide a means for tracking time, e.g., during a waterboard session.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The present invention is illustrated by way of example and notlimitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the present invention in acuff-closed configuration;

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of the present invention in acuff-released configuration; and

FIG. 3 is a close-up view of a cuff according to one embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, the terms proximal and distal are used intheir directional/positional sense to indicate directed toward or closerto a user (proximal) and directed away or farther from the user(distal).

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forthsuch as examples of specific methods, materials, components, etc. inorder to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. Itwill be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that these specificdetails need not be employed to practice the present invention. In otherinstances, well-known materials or methods have not been described indetail in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a watch leash 100 according to one embodiment of thepresent invention. Watch leash 100 includes a cuff 101 configured toencircle an extremity of a waterboard user, such as a surfer orbodyboarder, which extremity my be an arm or a leg. Preferably, the cuffmay be adjustable to fit comfortably around an ankle, a thigh, a wristor a bicep of the user. The cuff may be sewn or otherwise attached to astrap 101 b, such as a nylon or neoprene strap for example. Strap 101 bmay include means for fastening and adjusting the cuff, such as aVELCRO® fastener, for example. The cuff 101 may incorporate a waterprooftimekeeping device 102. Waterproof timekeeping device 102 may be, forexample, an analog or digital watch, a stopwatch, a countdown timer orother type of timekeeping device. In one embodiment, waterprooftimekeeping device 102 may also incorporate a tide gauge. Inembodiments, a watch leash 100 may further include a tide gauge inaddition to a timekeeping device 102.

Watch leash 100 may also include a non-rigid, shock-absorbing member103. Non-rigid, shock-absorbing member 103 may have a proximal end 104with a lanyard 105 to attach non-rigid, shock-absorbing member 103 tocuff 101. In one embodiment, non-rigid, shock-absorbing member 103 maybe fabricated as a coil from a plastic such as polyurethene, forexample, or other such materials as are known in the art.

Non-rigid, shock-absorbing member 103 may have a plastic coating 106, asillustrated in FIG. 1. Lanyard 105 may include, a swivel 107 fabricatedfrom brass or other corrosion resistant material. Swivel 107 may besecured to cuff 101 with a loop 101 c formed in strap 101 b, such thatnon-rigid, shock-absorbing member 103 has at least two degrees offreedom of motion with respect to cuff 101. The proximal end ofnon-rigid, shock-absorbing member 103 may be secured to swivel 107 via ascrew attachment 108, and protected by a molded elastomeric covering109. In one embodiment (not illustrated), non-rigid, shock-absorbingmember 103 may fabricated from a non-coiled elastomeric material toprovide shock absorbing qualities.

In one embodiment, the distal end of non-rigid, shock-absorbing member103 may have may be connected to a lanyard 110, which may be of the sameor similar construction as lanyard 105, for attachment to a non-rigid,substantially non-shock-absorbing member 111, such that non-rigidshock-absorbing member 103 has at least two degrees of freedom or motionwith respect to non-rigid, substantially non-shock-absorbing member 111.Non-rigid, substantially non-shock-absorbing member 111 may be a strap(e.g., a nylon strap) having a proximal end loop 112 configured toengage a swivel 113 in lanyard 110. Swivel 113 may be of the same orsimilar construction to swivel 107 in lanyard 105.

Non-rigid substantially non-shock-absorbing member 111 may have a distalend with a loop 114 configured to capture a retaining loop 115, whichmay be a loop of woven nylon, for example. Loop 115 may be configured toengage an anchor pin 116. In one embodiment, anchor pin 116 may have acylindrical or polygonal shank 117, tapered or otherwise configured fora friction fit to a mating receptacle in a waterboard such as asurfboard or bodyboard. Alternately, shank 117 may be configured withsplines, keys or other devices as are known in the art to achieve alocking fit with a matching receptacle in a waterboard.

FIG. 2 illustrates watch leash 100 in a configuration with strap 101 breleased for fitting to a user.

FIG. 3 is a close-up view of cuff 101 illustrating waterprooftimekeeping device 102 mounted to strap 101 b within fabric 101 a.

Although the present invention has been described with reference tospecific exemplary embodiments, it will be evident that variousmodifications and changes may be made to these embodiments withoutdeparting from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the claims. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are tobe regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

1. An article of manufacture, comprising: a cuff configured to encirclean extremity of a user, the cuff comprising a waterproof timekeepingdevice; a non-rigid shock-absorbing member comprising a first proximalend and a first distal end, the first proximal end flexibly coupled tothe cuff and having at least two degrees of freedom of motion withrespect to the cuff; a non-rigid substantially non-shock-absorbingmember comprising a second proximal end and a second distal end, thesecond proximal end coupled to the first distal end and having at leasttwo degrees of freedom of motion with respect to the non-rigidshock-absorbing member; a anchoring device configured for removableattachment to a waterboard, the anchoring device coupled to the seconddistal end and having at least two degrees of freedom of motion withrespect to the non-rigid substantially non-shock absorbing member. 2.The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the timekeeping devicecomprises at least one of a watch, a countdown timer, a stop-watch and atidal gauge.
 3. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the cufffurther comprises: a fabric sleeve configured to retain the waterprooftimekeeping device; and an adjustable strap configured to engage thefabric sleeve and to adjust a circumference of the cuff.
 4. The articleof manufacture of claim 1, wherein the non-rigid shock-absorbing membercomprises a coiled non-elastic cord.
 5. The article of manufacture ofclaim 4, wherein the coiled non-elastic cord is fabricated from one ofurethane and polypropylene.
 6. The article of manufacture of claim 5,wherein the coiled non-elastic cord is covered with a plastic sleeve. 7.The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the non-rigidshock-absorbing member comprises a non-coiled elastic cord.
 8. Thearticle of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the non-rigid, substantiallynon-shock-absorbing member comprises one of a nylon strap and a neoprenestrap.
 9. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the waterprooftimekeeping device is selected from an analog watch, a digital watch, astopwatch, and a countdown timer.
 10. The article of manufacture ofclaim 1, wherein the waterproof timekeeping device incorporates a tidegauge.
 11. The article of manufacture of claim 1, further comprising atide gauge.
 12. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein said anon-rigid substantially non-shock-absorbing member comprises a lanyard.13. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein said a non-rigidsubstantially non-shock-absorbing member comprises a swivel.
 14. Thearticle of manufacture of claim 12, wherein said lanyard comprises aswivel.